Precautions are a necessary part of staying healthy, and while you will of course make every effort to stay healthy and safe during your trip, it’s always wise to plan for emergencies. International travel insurance and emergency medical evacuation plans are available for purchase before you even leave home, so be sure to provide for yourself in the event of unforseen circumstances.
It is important to have a medical policy that will insure you while travelling, and cover any theft, loss, or medical emergencies you may experience while away from home.
Check your policy’s evacuation criteria and notify your travel agent of any necessary details.
Many local companies operate charter and scheduled flights around the country, from large passenger flights to the Swahili Coast to chartered bush aircraft flying to isolated locations far in the hinterlands. Air travel is a reliable and efficient way to travel from place to place in the country, but although it saves drastically on travel times, it is by far the most expensive option. Schedules for flights are flexible, however, and can usually be adjusted to suit your itinerary.
Domestic carriers travel between Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Zanzibar and Mwanza, and charter flights connect local airports and smaller destinations. Flying to the Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Pangani, Pemba, Mafia Island, and other destinations is often the most practical way of getting there if you’re pressed for time.
Charter flights can be shared between other connecting passengers to reduce the cost, and bookings are best made through an agent.
Travelling by sea to Tanzania is a beautiful way to enter the country. What you do not gain by speed, you experience in the adventure of travelling the same way the old explorers did — the edges of Zanzibar slowly appearing over the horizon, the shores of Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Nyasa edging green through the calm blue waters. When travelling overland, ferry transport is an ideal way to enter the country, allowing you the ease of organized transport and providing a chance to encounter Tanzanian cultures up-close during your journey. All in all, ferry travel in Tanzania is an exciting and culturally rich way to travel, allowing you to experience the sights and sounds of the country up close in an unforgettable journey.
When choosing a ferry company to travel with, make sure that the company is registered and reputable. Try, when possible, to get recommendations from other travellers. Also realize that international ferry transport to and from Kenya, Uganda, the Congo, and Malawi is subject to seasonal weather and may involve delays. Plan your trip accordingly, and try to be as flexible as possible.
A US$5 port tax is applied to all regional and international ferry tickets departing from Tanzanian ports.
Travellers from Malawi can take ferries from Nkhata Bay to Mbamba Bay in Tanzania over Lake Nyasa.
In Zambia, weekly ferries connect Mulungu with Kigoma. Ferries to and from Kigoma also depart weekly from Burundi.
Overland border crossing between Tanzania and its neighbours can be laborious or simple, depending on your preparation and the state of your vehicle’s paperwork. Make sure that you have valid visas (at the time of writing, Tanzanian visas are available for purchase at the border) and passports. If you’re travelling in a private vehicle, make sure you have the necessary import and export permits, international insurance, vehicle registration, and a valid driving license.
Most visitors travelling overland to Tanzania will pass through Kenya and the main border town of Namanga, located about halfway between Nairobi and Arusha. Regular shuttle buses connect the two cities and private vehicles are relatively easy to bring over the border, but make sure you check with the appropriate authorities for the necessary permits before you begin your trip. Daily buses also travel between the Kenyan port city of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam. Public buses and minibuses called dala dalas also frequent the quieter border posts of Horoho, Taveta, Illassit, Bologonya, and Sirari.
Travellers entering Tanzania from Malawi must pass through the Songwe River bridge south-east of Mbeya. Bus services between Lilongwe and Dar es Salaam, and Lilongwe, Mzuzu, and Mbeya depart several times each week.
Overland transport to Tanzania from Mozambique is fairly limited, as there are currently no bridges over the Ruvuma River. There is a ferry at Kilambo (south of Mtwara) and several other ferry crossings at larger towns and junctions, however foreigners must pass through Kitaya to get their passport stamped.
Travellers coming from Uganda cross into Tanzania at Mutukula, north-west of Bukoba. Buses connect Kampala to Dar es Salaam several times a week.
Safari vehicles must serve several purposes: they must allow you to sit in comfort for game drives, offer excellent viewing opportunities, and be tough enough to withstand the demands of the Tanzanian wilderness.
We ensure that our travelers always have access to a clean, well-maintained vehicle, appropriately sized and equipped for their group and activities. Bobby Tours’ guests travel in up-to-date and immaculately kept vehicles appropriate for the territory and itinerary. The safari vehicles are fully equipped with radios, bottled water, field guides, binoculars and other amenities for comfort and safety.
With the exception of transfers within Nairobi and Arusha, when minibuses are used, we use four-wheel-drive vehicles(4×4) – custom built safari Land Cruisers and Land Rovers – exclusively on all our safari programs.
Our safari vehicles are converted into custom-built safari cars, with pop-up roof to enable visitors to view wildlife better. Vehicles are fitted with thickly-cushioned individual seats.
We ensure that our travelers always have access to a clean, well-maintained vehicle, appropriately sized and equipped for their group and activities. Bobby Tours’ guests travel in up-to-date and immaculately kept vehicles appropriate for the territory and itinerary. The safari vehicles are fully equipped with radios, bottled water, field guides, binoculars and other amenities for comfort and safety.
We only use four-wheel-drive vehicles(4×4) – custom built safari Land Cruisers 4×4 – exclusively on all our Tanzania safari programs.
Our safari vehicles are converted into custom-built safari cars, with pop-up roof to enable visitors to view wildlife better. Vehicles are fitted with thickly-cushioned individual seats.
All safari cars have two-way radio communication equipment fitted to keep in contact with Head Station Base Radio located in our office Arusha.
A cool box, a pair of binoculars and reference books on mammals, birds, flora and fauna are all standard equipment in each vehicle.
Bobby Tours And Safaris operates with 4×4 safari vehicles and strives to ensure the best combination of comfort and effectiveness. The terrain does not allow for luxury-style vehicles. Vehicles are equipped with the necessary safari equipment, as well as a basic first-aid kit. Our safari driver/guides are well trained for handling vehicles under extreme 4×4 and safari conditions and put the safety of our clients first at all times. Transport arrangements are ensured and facilitated to the very last detail on behalf of the client, e.g. when it is necessary to take a domestic flight, if we can not collect you personally, transport will be arranged to and from your accommodation.
The benefits of traveling in Bobby Tours’ safari vehicles are:
You’re safe: Four-wheel-drive provides maximum traction and stability.
You’re comfortable.
High-backed seats with thickly cushioned fabric seats, armrests, and map pockets.
You have plenty of room in spacious vehicles with an aisle down the middle.
Storage space for luggage so it travels with you.
You have unobstructed views of wildlife and the landscape.
All passengers have their own opening window with single seats at each window.
A roof hatch provides open views and easy photography.
You have access to a video camera power socket.
Pop-up roof hatches for game viewing and photography.
On board HF radio communications, and Guaranteed window seating.
more interior space.
Luggage storage space.
Food and Camping Equipment storage space.
Our fleet of 40 vehicles consists of:
Safari Toyota Land Cruiser 4×4
Bobby Tours maintains a fleet of Land Rovers and Land Cruisers, which we customize to suit the clients needs.
For example, we replace the standard seats configuration with safari style seats for greater comfort.
At the same time, we modify the floor and lower the seats to give you an unobstructed view, and fit large hatches in the roof for more open space and a better game view.
Guaranteed window seats
All our safari vehicles carry cool boxes for drinks, one pair of binoculars and wildlife reference books.
4×4 vehicles used for game drives have variable seating plans of 5 – 7 persons. All vehicles have opening roof hatches making them ideal for game viewing and photography.
To solve your queries our experts are here, so please visit us we
located at Goliondoi Road
Bobby Tours building
Box 2169 Arusha Tanzania
We can meet you and pick you up from any hotel in Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport, we can also arrange to meet you if you arrive into Nairobi, just call us on :
+255272503490, +255272508176, +255272500020 or + 255272500021
At this time, only the Serengeti National Park has a company that operates hot-air balloon safaris. Especially during the months of the Great Migration, this is often the highlight of visitors’ trips to Tanzania. The journey takes a little over an hour and sets off before dawn, flying low over the plains as the sun comes up and turns the grasslands from blue to gold. After landing, guests have a champagne breakfast complete with crystal glasses and white linen tablecloths in the middle of the African bush, as zebra and antelope graze nearby. Although expensive, the experience is well worth the treat.
Tanzania’s numerous parks and reserves offer many Mountain Climbing options for the avid explorer. The most frequent expeditions are obviously to Mountain Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru, but there are other destinations such as the Crater Highlands. Trekking companies will happily put together an itinerary that suits your preferencesand our ‘things to bring’ section will help make sure that you adequately prepared. It is advisable, especially when climbing at higher altitudes, to take things slowly and allow your body to acclimatize.
For more information, see the ‘Mountains and Volcanoes’ section under ‘Places to Go’.
